Six Nations 2014: Jeremy Guscott on France v England

Six Nations: France v England

Coverage: Watch live Six Nations coverage on BBC One, BBC One HD, mobiles and online from 14:00 GMT; listen on BBC Radio 5 live from 17:00 GMT; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Paris in springtime may be a romantic idyll but the Stade de France in mid-winter is an intimidating cauldron.

England travel to France for Saturday's game with two debutants and a three-quarter line boasting a grand total of nine caps between them.

But when I was fortunate enough to be invited to their training camp this week, the young guys seemed really up for it - and I have a good feeling about England's prospects for the challenge on Saturday.

A note of caution, however. It is the oldest cliche in the game but you really never do know which France will turn up and, after finishing bottom last season, they'll be desperate to start with a bang in 2014.

Crying Frenchmen and cockerels on the loose

Back in my day when you ran out on to the pitch in Paris you always had to dodge the odd cockerel smuggled into the stadium by fans, which was a real reminder you weren't playing at Twickenham.

And then came the anthems. Most of the French players would be crying, out of their heads with emotion, and chomping at the bit to get stuck into us English as they belted out La Marseillaise.

Brian Moore (centre) loved getting under the skin of the French

The French anthem talks about "this day of glory fighting against tyranny's bloody standard" and "watering their fields with blood" - so when you've got 80,000 fans all roaring it out, it is quite memorable.

Former England hooker Brian Moore, whose inimitable tones you will hear during commentary on Saturday, would absolutely love the matches against the French because he really enjoyed winding them up, mostly legally from what I could see but I'm sure some of the other went on as well.

Moore's mind-games were pretty effective though, and on many occasions it was the French themselves who got on the wrong side of the ref's decisions.

So what can we expect from France?

France's discipline was pretty dreadful back then but it is much improved these days and they're far better at keeping their emotions in check.

It isn't necessarily a change for the better, however, because now we don't see enough of the flair they were renowned for. I'd love to see it come back - but they can save it until after Saturday's game if that's OK with them.

Les Bleus
had a shocking 2013, finishing bottom of the Six Nations and winning only two Tests out of 11, but there's no doubt they've got some talented players.

You have to think they can't be as bad again, even though they've got yet another new half-back partnership in debutant fly-half Jules Plisson and scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain.

Plisson has guided Stade Francais to the summit of the Top 14 table so he's obviously doing something right, but he's an unknown at this level.

On the other hand, in the likes of exciting centre Wesley Fofana and number eight Louis Picamoles, who was far and away the best player in the tournament last year, they have real firepower. And France's back three are razor sharp - if they get the opportunity they will cut you to shreds.

Picamoles (centre) was magnificent for France despite their dire form last year

What about England's new boys then?

Centre Luther Burrell has been playing really well this season for an in-form Northampton team.

In attack he takes the ball up well, can get across the gainline, can offload and has decent distribution, while defensively he's also solid - as you'd expect from someone who is 6ft 3in and weighs over 17 stone.

Hopefully he won't be overwhelmed at winning his first cap in front of 80,000 at the Stade de France. England head coach Stuart Lancaster,
who gave him his start in the professional game,
clearly has faith he can handle it and I'm confident he'll have a great game.

New winger Jack Nowell is a really natural, bubbly guy and keen to get stuck in.

England's new boys

Jack Nowell - Exeter

Date of Birth: 11 April 1993

Height: 5ft 11in (1.80m)

Weight: 14st 0lb (89kg)

Luther Burrell - Northampton

Date of Birth: 6 December 1987

Height: 6ft 3in (1.91m)

Weight: 17st 2lb (109kg)

I'm a little bit surprised he's been selected
as he's only 20
but Lancaster saw something about him when he first watched him play in an Under-18s game a couple of years ago, and if he can get his hands on the ball it will be good to see what the Exeter wing can do.

It will also be good to see him get a shoulder into his man as well, because defence is a big part of what he'll be expected to deliver on Saturday.

He was part of the England side that won the Under-20 World Cup and has edged ahead of team-mate Anthony Watson in the race to the full side.

Selection comes down to a feeling and Lancaster must feel he's shown a bit more maturity and is better equipped to handle what's coming than Watson, who is still only 19, at this time.

There are always going to be a question marks over youth but you go with your feelings and the vibe from the Heineken Cup,
in which Nowell has been in great form
for Exeter, is that he's ready and able to move up a level.

Time for Twelvetrees to step up

This Six Nations has to be the making of inside centre Billy Twelvetrees as a leader in the back line if he's going to be part of a successful England team.

I want to believe he's that person because fly-half Owen Farrell needs help with the leadership role and to get the England backs going.

With eight caps, Twelvetrees is England's most experienced three-quarter in Paris

I have a good feeling about the partnership between Twelvetrees and Burrell - they're both big lads (which is handy given 18-stone France centre Mathieu Bastareaud lies in wait) but they can play too.

Twelvetrees is the artist while Burrell can be the blunt instrument when required, and outside them there's a back three that can really finish.

At scrum-half, Danny Care has won the nod over Lee Dickson. The Harlequins nine is a more threatening runner than the Northampton man but he needs to temper that great flair with more accuracy.

He needs to be calmer in his decision making and he must use his boot well. His box kick has got be to contestable and his clearance kicks have got to be long and away from French defenders.

France will miss captain Dusautoir

Thierry Dusautoir won loads of ball at the ruck for Toulouse against Sarries but fortunately for England the France captain is injured and will be absent on Saturday.

They will still have to face two-thirds of the Toulouse back row though, in Yannick Nyanga and Picamoles.

Number eight Picamoles was outstanding in 2013 but England counterpart Billy Vunipola is a monster as well and you'd expect him to carry on from where he left off against New Zealand. England also hunt as a unit and that makes them stronger.

Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood and Vunpiola have a great work-rate and I believe the England collective will get them through this match.

So who's going to win then?

I've got a good feeling for England. Recent form favours them and they have a decent record in Paris over the past few years.

" No such thing as a British or Irish Celt" History and Ethnic diversity not you're strong point! Or are you just spreading Colonial propaganda, if so do it some where else! Just a tip look up The Celtic Battersea Shield dated 350BC found around the area of Chelsea, it might help broaden you're mind, but I doubt it :)

What's with this 'lucky bounces' garbage? In case the die-hard english fans hadn't noticed, the ball is not actually spherical, and is the same for both sides. You make your own luck. The more chances you make the luckier you get.

Wales v Italy game was very poor - Two very average teams played out a stodgy game, with so many mistakes. Wales lucky with first try handed to them on a plate and second looked forward with Williams' pass to Roberts. Italy looked better at the breakdown and scrum. Wales have played the same way for 6 years. 1/2 penny keeps them in games. Wales have no chance in the WC based on this game.

Never rated this guy as a player, even less as a pundit. France ruled the game for 50 mins with England showing a slight inclination to win for 30 mins. Stuart Lancaster is the weak link where England is concerned. He plays Ben Youngs at scrum half last year, the worst scrum half ever to wear an English shirt. He plays Danny Cares, one of the best on the field today and substitutes him. Crazy

As a Welsh fan I was watching this from a neutral POV, but i must say ben morgan had a fantastic game. a real threat with ball in hand, similar to billy V. I feel sorry for SL as hes clearly enstilled a great mind set in the team but cant seem to get the results from his squad when it matters most. Not to say england played poorly which they didnt, but they need to close out those games

Unlucky England, still could be a blessing in disguise, for once there was no ridiculous declaration by the BBC commentator that the 'grand slam Is on'. That could be their toughest match over and they won't have the usual pressure applied by the media hype. Might give the team the room to play and perform. Hopefully not though I'm a irish fan after all!

I thought the backs were good today although it's disappointing to lsoe your wing after 10 min. Not that much between the teams and on another day England could have won. The bounce of a rugby ball has influenced a match before now and will again; such is the game.

As a Kiwi I have to say I'm worried. England did what they did against us in the Autumn - for 50 minutes we struggled and they only lost at the end. Same again today, England ran France ragged from 30 mins to the 70th minute only to miss out late on. France had two very lucky tries and a ref who let everything go in the first half. If England close out with composure we are all in trouble.

Over-reactions all over the place here, like suggesting Lancaster should go. One different bounce of the ball and England could have won, and then Lancaster would be a genius and he'd be up for knighthood. It's a game of tight margins, so conclusions shouldn't be so absolute and damning.

people gonna criticise jack nowell, knock on early and miscommunication between him and goode were the issues, but his defence and work with ball in hand were pretty good, decent debut, shame about the result but an easier (not easy) game in Scotland next week

England are at their best with ball in hand chasing the game (early 2nd half) .The reason they're chasing the game is because they still kick for 'territory' early in game even when in possession inside the opponents half and surrender possession. Then they get the lead and revert to type and give possession back again. Exactly what they did against ABs in December, so what have they learned?

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